Reduce Building Automation System Alerts
Building automation systems give facility managers more control over environmental systems in a building. One of the advantages of an automation system over just having the key to a locked thermostat, for example, is that these systems are also monitoring the building for signs that the environmental settings are off somehow. If one part of the building is suddenly much colder or warmer, for example, the system can send an alert to the facility manager.
You probably don't want to get a lot of these alerts. Luckily, reducing alerts is possible by ensuring human error hasn't entered the picture, especially if you know what can cause humidity levels or temperature to get out of whack.
Blocked Vents
Vents need more space in front of them than many people realize. This is one of the reasons why you find many vents on the ceiling, rather than on the wall where they could be blocked by a tall bookcase or storage cabinet. Even on the ceiling, they can be blocked by hanging items like signs; people on the other side of the sign may not get as much cooling or heating because the airflow out of the vent is blocked. Decorations for holidays can block airflow, too. These blockages don't have to be complete; they just have to be enough to restrict how much airflow is reaching people. Find out the radius in which an area needs to be kept clear around a vent, and then ensure all of the vents meet that requirement.
People Leaving Doors Open
People leave doors open for ventilation or to easily move items out of a space, or because they don't want to have to deal with a closed door. But that open door can change the temperature in that area of the building by enough to set off an alert. Find out what is causing people to leave the doors open and address that issue. For example, if people complain that the area is just too stuffy, you know that the ventilation system needs adjustment or repair.
Microclimates
Microclimates are literally very small climates created within bigger climate areas. The term usually refers to weather; you may live in a semi-arid region but have a part of your yard that stays damp and cold because it doesn't get any sunlight and the soil drains poorly, for example. In office buildings, a microclimate can form when a portion of the building has some feature that causes the temperature or humidity to regularly be out of whack due to building design or permanent features—so, this is different than the changes in temperature caused by temporarily blocking a vent or opening a door. For example, a large planter in the lobby can make the lobby more humid than the rest of the building because of water evaporation.
By addressing these issues, you can create a more comfortable work environment. For more information, contact building automation system services.
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